Talk to Kabul, US Envoy Tells Taliban

FILE - U.S. special envoy for peace in Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, talks with local reporters at the U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, Nov. 18, 2018.

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Talk to Kabul, US Envoy Tells Taliban

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ISLAMABAD —

The U.S. special representative for Afghan reconciliation is urging direct talks between the Taliban and the Kabul government as he confirmed details in a draft peace deal aimed at ending the 17-year conflict in the country.

Zalmay Khalilzad told the New York Times in Kabul that the deal framework would have to be "fleshed out before it becomes an agreement," but stressed the Taliban "have committed, to our satisfaction, to do what is necessary that would prevent Afghanistan from ever becoming a platform for international terrorist groups or individuals.”

In return, the U.S. may be willing to give in to the prime Taliban demand of withdrawing its troops from the country given that other conditions, including a comprehensive cease-fire and the start of a dialogue with Kabul, are met. U.S. and Taliban officials had held six days of talks in Doha. Details of their draft deal first started appearing Saturday.

Talks between the Taliban and American diplomats started last summer in Doha. In September, Khalilzad was appointed by President Donald Trump to help negotiate an end to the 17-year-long conflict. Since then, he has held several rounds with the Taliban.

In the last round of talks between the two sides in Abu Dhabi in December, the Kabul administration had sent a team led by National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib, in hopes that it would meet the Taliban directly. But the Taliban team refused to talk to their fellow Afghans, despite meeting with the Americans.

If Taliban continue to refuse meeting the Afghan government, it could potentially unravel the progress made so far.

“The key for finding the solutions for Afghan problems is at the hands of Afghans now,”Khalilzad said.